Salt solution feeding apparatus



May 9, 1939.

C. V. SWEARINGEN SALT SOLUTION FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 1938 O Q 009 O O 0 D 00 O DO 0 0 0 0 O 00 0 Q 00 00 O 0 q qg o o a o O QZDOO INVENTOR ATTO R N EYS Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a salt solution feeding apparatus and has for an object to provide novel apparatus for feeding a salt solution, such as a copper sulfate solution, or an ammonium sulfate solution to any point of application to treat water, or sewage, or industrial wastes.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this character having a reservoir which will maintain a constant head of water on a burette so that drops may be discharged at a constant rate per minute to a salt container or tank which receives the drops and is so constructed that a small amount of salt solution stands in the bottom of the tank at all times to promote a predetermined strength or concentration at a given temperature.

A further general object is to provide apparatus for effecting a more accurate control of the concentration of the salt solution than hitherto possible with conventional devices of this character.

A further object is to provide apparatus of this type which will be formed of a few strong simple and durable parts, which will be inexpensive to manufacture and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully'described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, I

The figure is a side elevation, with parts in section. of a salt solution feeding apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to the drawing l0 designates a platform weighing scale of conventional type upon which the apparatus is supported so that the material may be weighed.

In carrying out the invention a base plate H of any desired material is supported upon the platform scales through the medium of legs l2. A standard l3 rises from one edge of the base and above the base is equipped with a panel M of any desired material. the panel being secured to the standard straps l5 which are screwed to the panel and to the standard.

A tank I6 is supported upon the base plate II and is provided with an arcuate baffle I1 which extends inwardly from the wall of the tank and thence downwardly toward the bottom of the tank, there being a small space l8 between the i bottom of the baliie and the bottom of the tank through which solution may escape to an outlet pipe l9 which extends from the wall of the tank a suitable distance below the top of the baflle ll. The salt 9 to be put in solution such as copper sulfate, ammonium sulfate. or other salt is inserted in the tank so that the tank is substantially filled with the salt as illustrated.

A cup shaped reservoir 20, preferably formed of glass, is provided in the bottom with an outlet tube 2i and a strap bracket 22 is placed astride of the tube and secured in any preferred manner to the panel for mounting the reservoir on the panel in upright position. The reservoir is provided in one side near the top with a water inlet tube 23 and at a point diametrically opposite the water inlet tube the reservoir is provided with a water outlet tube 24. A water supply pipe 25 having a control valve 26, is connected to the inlet tube 23 through the medium of a conventional coupling 21. A hose 28 is connected to the water outlet pipe 24 and is trained downwardly outside of the panel and outside of the tank Hi to a point adjacent the outlet pipe l9 of the tank where the hose discharges into a funnel 29 which latter, as well as the hose 28, is secured to the base plate ll through the medium of an arched bracket arm 30 having clamp rings 3! and 32 sleeved upon the base and upon the outlet tube of the funnel, the clamp ring 32 having formed integral therewith a screw 33 or other connector which is secured to the base plate.

The function of the reservoir 20 is to hold excess Water which rises in the reservoir to a level indicated by the dotted line shown, the valve 26 being opened sufficiently to permit a predetermined flow through the hose 28 into the funnel while the excess is by-passed through the reservoir 20 for supplying water drop by drop to the salt 9 in the tank, as will now be described.

A glass U-tube 34 has one leg attached to the outlet tube 2| of the reservoir 20 through the medium of a coupling 35. The U-tube is secured to the panel by a strap bracket 36 which extends transversely of the legs of the tube and is terminally secured to the panel by screws 31 or other connectors. The other leg of the U-tube is directed outwardly at the upper end and secured by a coupling 38 to a T-pipe 39 the upright branch 40 of which constitutes an air vent. A pipe 4| has its upper end directed to align with and is connected to the T-pipe through the medium of a coupling 42. This pipe is secured to the panel through the medium of a strap bracket 43 or other connector and below the strap bracket is equipped with a conventional burette 44.

When the burette is regulated to drop water drop by drop it is necessary to employ filters to remove small particles from the water so as not to clog the small opening in the burette and also to maintain a constant rate of drop. For this purpose filtering material of any suitable character is disposed in the reservoir U-tube and T-connection as shown at 45, 45 and 4'! respectively.

In operation the water valve 26 is opened slightly and water flows to the reservoir 20 and through the hose 28 to the outlet funnel 253 and from thence through a hose 48 to the point of application. A portion of the water flows through the filtering material in the reservoir 20 into the U-tube 34 and from thence through the T-connection 39 and pipe 4! to the burette 44 where it is fed into the salt 9 in the tank l6, drop by drop or in a steady stream as desired. When it is fed drop by drop there must be filtering material used as above stated. The drops or stream of water trickles down through the salt 9 into the solution of salt at the bottom of the tank, the level of which stands at the bottom of the outlet pipe l9. The flow from the burette 44 forces the solution out of the outlet pipe I9 after passing through the opening it at the bottom of the bafiie H. The solution passes out of the outlet pipe l9 into the funnel 29 where it flows through the hose 48 to the point of application.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

1. A salt solution feeding apparatus comprising a support, a reservoir on the support, means for directing water through the reservoir at a controlled rate of flow, means for collecting and conducting said water to a point of application, a U-tube on the support connected to the bottom of the reservoir for by-passing water from the reservoir, 9. burette connected to the outlet end of the tube for discharging the water from the tube at a predetermined rate of flow, a salt container on the support below the burette, into which the burette discharges, a baffle extending from one side wall of the container downwardly to nearly the bottom of the container, and an outlet pipe connected to the container near the top of the battle for discharging salt solution from the container into said collecting and conducting means. i

2. A salt solution feeding machine comprising a support, a salt container on the support, a panel secured to the support above the salt container, a water pipe extending across and downwardly from the panel, a valve in said pipe to regulate flow therethrough, means carried by the support into which said pipe discharges, a reservoir on the support intercepting flow through the pipe, a U-pipe connected to the bottom of the reservoir for receiving water under a predetermined head therefrom, an outlet pipe connected to the U-pipe and extending across and downwardly from the panel, a burette connected to the outlet pipe and disposed above the container for dispensing water at a predetermined rate into the container, an air vent pipe connected to the outlet pipe, a baffle in the container extending from one vertical wall thereof to near the bottom of the container, and an outlet pipe connected to said wall near the top of the baffle for discharging salt solution into said funnel.

3. A salt solution feeding apparatus comprising a salt container, a baffle in the container at the bottom thereof for defining a space into which solution may rise to a predetermined level, a discharge pipe connected to the container below the top of the bafile, a water pipe, a valve in the water pipe, the discharge end of the water pipe and the outlet pipe for the container being juxtaposed to discharge their contents simultaneously at a localized point, a reservoir in the water pipe for deflecting water therefrom, a U-pipe connected to the reservoir, and a burette connected to the U-pipe and adapted to discharge water at a predetermined number of drops per minute into the top of the salt container.

4. A salt solution feeding apparatus comprising a salt container, an outlet pipe for the container disposed at a predetermined solution level above the bottom of the container, a valve controlled water pipe above the container having a downwardly directed outlet end terminating contiguous to the outlet pipe from the container, a reservoir in said water pipe for intercepting water passing through the pipe, a U-tube connected to the bottom of the reservoir, 2. filter in the U-tube, an outlet pipe for the U-tube, an air vent in the outlet pipe, and a burette connected to the outlet pipe below the air vent and adapted to discharge water at a predetermined rate of drops per minute into the salt container.

CLAIR V. SWEARINGEN. 

